Exhaust dispersion device

ABSTRACT

An exhaust dispersion device for an exhaust system with an outer flow member is disclosed. The exhaust dispersion device includes a dispersion member capable of being disposed within the outer flow member. The dispersion member defines an axis and includes an upstream end and a downstream end. A cross section of the downstream end perpendicular to the axis is larger than a cross section of the upstream end perpendicular to the axis. The dispersion device also includes an aperture extending through the dispersion member. The aperture is coaxial with the axis. Flow of all exhaust gas through the outer flow member is divided between flow through the aperture and flow between the outer flow member and the dispersion member. The dispersion member is operable to divert the flow of the exhaust gas at least partially toward the outer flow member.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to an exhaust system, and moreparticularly relates to an exhaust dispersion device for an exhaustsystem.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

A variety of exhaust systems exist for vehicles and other machines. Someexhaust systems include catalytic converters, diesel particulatefilters, NOX traps, or other devices with one or more substrates thattreat the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust system.

It is desirable to maintain a uniform flow of exhaust gas radiallyacross the substrate face. This is desirable because the substrate canperform more effectively. For example, in a diesel particulate filter,soot is more likely to be distributed evenly on the substrate if theflow of exhaust gas is uniform. Also, regeneration within the system canoccur more effectively. Uniform flow is also desirable because thesubstrate will likely have a longer operating life. For example, if asubstantial temperature gradient develops in the radial direction on thesubstrate, the substrate can crack; however, if the flow of exhaust gasis more uniform at the substrate face, a substantial temperaturegradient is unlikely to develop.

However, in conventional exhaust systems, the flow of exhaust gas tendsto be heavier at the axial center of the substrate face than at theradially outward positions of the substrate face. As such, the substrateoperates less effectively, and the substrate is more likely to bedamaged. Accordingly, there remains a need for an exhaust system thatmaintains a more uniform flow of exhaust gas across the substrate face.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to an exhaust dispersion device for anexhaust system with an outer flow member. The exhaust dispersion deviceincludes a dispersion member capable of being disposed within the outerflow member. The dispersion member defines an axis and includes anupstream end and a downstream end. A cross section of the downstream endperpendicular to the axis is larger than a cross section of the upstreamend perpendicular to the axis. The dispersion device also includes anaperture extending through the dispersion member. The aperture iscoaxial with the axis. Flow of all exhaust gas through the outer flowmember is divided between flow through the aperture and flow between theouter flow member and the dispersion member. The dispersion member isoperable to divert the flow of the exhaust gas at least partially towardthe outer flow member.

In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an exhaust systemthat includes an outer flow member and an exhaust dispersion devicedisposed within the outer flow member. The exhaust dispersion deviceincludes a dispersion member that defines an axis. The dispersion memberincludes an upstream end and a downstream end. A cross section of thedownstream end perpendicular to the axis is larger than a cross sectionof the upstream end perpendicular to the axis. The exhaust dispersiondevice also includes an aperture extending through the dispersionmember. The aperture is coaxial with the axis. Flow of all exhaust gasthrough the outer flow member is divided between flow through theaperture and flow between the outer flow member and the dispersionmember. The dispersion member is operable to divert the flow of theexhaust gas at least partially toward the outer flow member.

In still another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an exhaustsystem for a vehicle that includes an outer flow member and a substratethat is disposed within the outer flow member such that an exhaust gaswithin the outer flow member can flow toward the substrate. The exhaustsystem also includes an exhaust dispersion device disposed within theouter flow member. The exhaust dispersion device includes a dispersionmember that defines an axis. The dispersion member includes an upstreamend and a downstream end. A cross section of the downstream endperpendicular to the axis is larger than a cross section of the upstreamend perpendicular to the axis. The exhaust dispersion device alsoincludes an aperture extending through the dispersion member. Theaperture is coaxial with the axis. Flow of all the exhaust gas throughthe outer flow member is divided between flow through the aperturetoward the substrate and flow between the outer flow member and thedispersion member toward the substrate. The dispersion member isoperable to divert the flow of the exhaust gas at least partially towardthe outer flow member as the exhaust gas flows toward the substrate.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. It should be understood that the description andspecific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an exhaust system of avehicle with an exhaust dispersion device;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the exhaust system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the exhaustdispersion device; and

FIG. 4 is an end view of the exhaust dispersion device of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. Itshould be understood that throughout the drawings, correspondingreference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a portion of a vehicle 10, specifically,a portion of an exhaust system 12 is shown. It will be appreciated thatthe exhaust system 12 could be included in any other machine besides avehicle 10 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The exhaust system 12 includes an outer flow member 14. The outer flowmember 14 can be a portion of an exhaust after-treatment device, such asa catalytic converter, a diesel particulate filter, an NOX trap, and/orany suitable device without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

The exhaust system 12 also includes a substrate 16 (FIG. 1). Thesubstrate 16 is disposed within the outer flow member 14. The substrate16 is operable for removing substances from exhaust gas that flowsthrough the exhaust system 12. More specifically, the exhaust system 12is in fluid communication with an engine (not shown), and exhaust gasesfrom the engine flow through the outer flow member 14 toward thesubstrate 16. The exhaust gases flow through the substrate 16, and thesubstrate 16 removes substances, such as soot, carbon monoxide, unburnedhydrocarbons, particulate matter and the like.

The exhaust system 12 also includes an exhaust dispersion devicegenerally indicated at 18. As will be discussed, the exhaust dispersiondevice 18 is operable to cause more uniform flow of exhaust gases acrossan upstream face 20 of the substrate 16.

In the embodiment shown, the outer flow member 14 includes an inletmember 11 and a truncated conic member 13. The truncated conic member 13is coupled to the inlet member 11 at a transition 15. The transition 15can have any suitable radius. In one embodiment, the inlet member 11 iscoupled to the truncated conic member 13 by welding. In anotherembodiment, the inlet member 11 and the truncated conic member 13 areintegrally attached. In the embodiment shown, the inlet member 11 has acircular cross section and is co-axial with the conic member 13. It willbe appreciated, however, that the outer flow member 14 could be of anysuitable shape without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

The smaller end of the conic member 13 is coupled to the inlet member 11such that the cross-sectional area of the outer flow member 14 increasesmoving away from the inlet member 11. Also, in the embodiment shown, thesubstrate 16 is disposed within the outer flow member 14 at the maximumcross-sectional area of the outer flow member 14.

The exhaust dispersion device 18 includes an inlet member 22 and adispersion member 24 coupled to the inlet member 22. In the embodimentshown, the inlet member 22 has a circular cross-section and is axiallystraight such that a cross-sectional area of the inlet member 22perpendicular to the axis A is approximately constant along the lengthof the inlet member 22. The dispersion member 24, on the other hand, hasa truncated conic shape and includes an upstream end 26 and a downstreamend 28 (FIG. 1). The upstream end 26 of the dispersion member 24 iscoupled to the inlet member 22. Accordingly, a cross section of thedownstream end 28 perpendicular to the axis, A, is larger than a crosssection of the upstream end 26 perpendicular to the axis, A. It will beappreciated that the inlet member 22 and the dispersion member 24 couldbe of any suitable shape without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

The exhaust dispersion device 18 also includes an aperture 30 (FIG. 2)that extends through the inlet member 22 and the dispersion member 24.The aperture 30 is coaxial with the axis, A. In the embodiment shown,the wall thickness of the inlet member 22 and the dispersion member 24remains constant across the length of the exhaust dispersion device 18such that the cross-sectional area of the aperture 30 remains generallyconstant through the inlet member 22 and increases across the length ofthe dispersion member 24 moving away from the inlet member 22.Accordingly, the flow of all exhaust gas (represented by dashed arrowsin FIG. 1) is divided between flow through the aperture 30 toward thesubstrate 16 and flow between the outer flow member 14 and the exhaustdispersion device 18 toward the substrate 16.

The exhaust dispersion device 18 further includes at least one supportmember 32. In the embodiment shown, the exhaust dispersion device 18includes a plurality of support members 32 spaced equally from eachother about the axis A. Each support member 32 is coupled to the inletmember 22 at one end, and each support member 32 is also coupled at anopposite end to the outer flow member 14. In the embodiment shown, eachsupport member 32 includes a tab 34 at one end to facilitate attachmentto the outer flow member 14. In one embodiment, the exhaust dispersiondevice 18 is coupled to the inlet member 11 of the outer flow member 14,and then the truncated conic member 13 is coupled to the inlet member11.

Accordingly, the support members 32 couple the exhaust dispersion device18 to the outer flow member 14 such that the inlet member 22 is disposedupstream of the dispersion member 24. The support members 32 also couplethe exhaust dispersion device 18 to the outer flow member 14 such thatthe dispersion member 24 is disposed in spaced relationship relative tothe outer flow member 14. In the embodiment shown, the dispersion member24 and the inlet member 22 are co-axial with the outer flow member 14;however, the dispersion member 24 and the inlet member 22 could bemisaligned with the outer flow member 14 without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

Furthermore, the exhaust dispersion device 18 is disposed within theouter flow member 14 such that a cross section taken approximatelythrough the transition 15 perpendicular to the axis, A, intersects theexhaust dispersion device 18. In addition, a first angle, θ, measuredbetween the axis, A, and a peripheral wall of the outer flow member 14is at most equal to a second angle, θ′, measured between the axis, A,and a peripheral wall of the dispersion member 24. In the embodiment,the first angle, θ, is less than the second angle, θ′.

As represented by the dashed arrows of FIG. 1, the exhaust dispersiondevice 18 forces the flow of exhaust gas outward radially toward theouter flow member 14. Accordingly, the flow of exhaust gas is moreevenly distributed across the upstream face 20 of the substrate 16. Assuch, the substrate 16 can function more effectively, and the operatinglife of the substrate 16 increases.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, another embodiment of the dispersiondevice 118 is illustrated, wherein like numerals increased by 100represent like features with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.As shown, the dispersion device 118 includes a dispersion member 124 anda plurality of support members 132. The dispersion device 118 alsoincludes a relief 133 that extends from the downstream end 128 towardthe upstream end 126. There is a relief 133 on each side of each supportmember 132.

Furthermore, each support member 132 includes an upstream face 135. Asshown in FIG. 4, the upstream face 135 is disposed at a positive angle,θ″, relative to a plane that is perpendicular to the axis A.Accordingly, the flow of exhaust gas is diverted at least partially bythe dispersion member 124 toward the outer flow member, and the upstreamface 135 of each support member 132 further diverts the flow of theexhaust gas for more even flow distribution across the upstream face ofthe substrate.

1. An exhaust dispersion device for an exhaust system with an outer flowmember, the exhaust dispersion device comprising: a dispersion membercapable of being disposed within the outer flow member, wherein thedispersion member defines an axis, wherein the dispersion memberincludes an upstream end and a downstream end, and wherein a crosssection of the downstream end perpendicular to the axis is larger than across section of the upstream end perpendicular to the axis; and anaperture extending through the dispersion member, wherein the apertureis coaxial with the axis, wherein flow of all exhaust gas through theouter flow member is divided between flow through the aperture and flowbetween the outer flow member and the dispersion member, and wherein thedispersion member is operable to divert the flow of the exhaust gas atleast partially toward the outer flow member.
 2. The exhaust dispersiondevice of claim 1, further comprising an inlet member coupled to thedispersion member, wherein the aperture extends through the inlet memberand the dispersion member.
 3. The exhaust dispersion device of claim 2,wherein a cross section of the inlet member perpendicular to the axis isapproximately constant along a length of the inlet member.
 4. Theexhaust dispersion device of claim 1, wherein the dispersion member hasa truncated conic shape.
 5. The exhaust dispersion device of claim 1,further comprising at least one support member operable for coupling thedispersion member to the outer flow member such that the dispersionmember is disposed in spaced relationship relative to the outer flowmember.
 6. The exhaust dispersion device of claim 5, wherein the atleast one support member includes an upstream face, and wherein theupstream face is disposed at a positive angle relative to a plane thatis perpendicular to the axis.
 7. An exhaust system comprising: an outerflow member; and an exhaust dispersion device disposed within the outerflow member, the exhaust dispersion device comprising a dispersionmember that defines an axis, wherein the dispersion member includes anupstream end and a downstream end, and wherein a cross section of thedownstream end perpendicular to the axis is larger than a cross sectionof the upstream end perpendicular to the axis; and an aperture extendingthrough the dispersion member, wherein the aperture is coaxial with theaxis, wherein flow of all exhaust gas through the outer flow member isdivided between flow through the aperture and flow between the outerflow member and the dispersion member, and wherein the dispersion memberis operable to divert the flow of the exhaust gas at least partiallytoward the outer flow member.
 8. The exhaust system of claim 7, furthercomprising an inlet member coupled to the dispersion member and disposedupstream of the dispersion member, wherein the aperture extends throughthe inlet member and the dispersion member.
 9. The exhaust system ofclaim 8, wherein a cross section of the inlet member perpendicular tothe axis is approximately constant along a length of the inlet member.10. The exhaust system of claim 7, wherein the dispersion member has atruncated conic shape.
 11. The exhaust system of claim 10, wherein theouter flow member comprises a truncated conic member, and wherein afirst angle measured between the axis and a wall of the outer flowmember is at most equal to a second angle measured between the axis anda wall of the dispersion member.
 12. The exhaust system of claim 7,wherein the outer flow member comprises an inlet member and a truncatedconic member coupled to the inlet member at a transition, and wherein across section taken approximately through the transition perpendicularto the axis intersects the exhaust dispersion device.
 13. The exhaustsystem of claim 7, wherein the exhaust dispersion device furthercomprises at least one support member coupling the exhaust dispersiondevice to the outer flow member such that the dispersion member isdisposed in spaced relationship relative to the outer flow member andsuch that the dispersion member is coaxial with the outer flow member.14. The exhaust system of claim 13, wherein the at least one supportmember includes an upstream face, and wherein the upstream face isdisposed at a positive angle relative to a plane that is perpendicularto the axis.
 15. An exhaust system for a vehicle comprising: an outerflow member; a substrate disposed within the outer flow member such thatan exhaust gas within the outer flow member can flow toward thesubstrate; and an exhaust dispersion device disposed within the outerflow member, the exhaust dispersion device comprising a dispersionmember that defines an axis, wherein the dispersion member includes anupstream end and a downstream end, and wherein a cross section of thedownstream end perpendicular to the axis is larger than a cross sectionof the upstream end perpendicular to the axis; and an aperture extendingthrough the dispersion member, wherein the aperture is coaxial with theaxis, wherein flow of all exhaust gas through the outer flow member isdivided between flow through the aperture toward the substrate and flowbetween the outer flow member and the dispersion member toward thesubstrate, and wherein the exhaust dispersion device is operable todivert the flow of the exhaust gas at least partially toward the outerflow member as the exhaust gas flows toward the substrate.
 16. Theexhaust system of claim 15, further comprising an inlet member coupledto the dispersion member and disposed upstream of the dispersion member,wherein the aperture extends through the inlet member and the dispersionmember.
 17. The exhaust system of claim 16, wherein a cross section ofthe inlet member perpendicular to the axis is approximately constantalong a length of the inlet member.
 18. The exhaust system of claim 15,wherein the outer flow member comprises an inlet member and a truncatedconic member coupled to the inlet member at a transition, and wherein across section taken approximately through the transition perpendicularto an axis of the exhaust dispersion member intersects the exhaustdispersion device.
 19. The exhaust system of claim 15, wherein thedispersion member has a truncated conic shape, wherein the outer flowmember comprises a truncated conic member, and wherein a first anglemeasured between the axis and a wall of the outer flow member is at mostequal to a second angle measured between the axis and a wall of thedispersion member.
 20. The exhaust system of claim 15, wherein theexhaust dispersion device further comprises at least one support membercoupling the exhaust dispersion device to the outer flow member suchthat the dispersion member is disposed in spaced relationship relativeto the outer flow member and such that the dispersion member is coaxialwith the outer flow member, wherein the at least one support memberincludes an upstream face, and wherein the upstream face is disposed ata positive angle relative to a plane that is perpendicular to the axis.